The Transition

Recently, I announced that I was one of the top-ten finalists for the Still I Rise Grant for Black Women Writers. Although I didn’t win, I’m pleased Alternating Current decided to publish The Transition via The Coil. Here is the link. I hope you enjoy this story about my relationship with my father.

Congratulations on being a finalist, Kathy! This is a superb memoir writing piece, heartfelt and open. Your early years were so tough and it must have been hard to find the forgiveness in you but glad for both your sakes that there was reconciliation. A moving account.

Thanks Annika! They were. I held a lot in and because of that, I choose to do the very opposite at this stage of life lol Forgiveness is very difficult, especially when you feel so strongly that you’ve been wronged, you know? Anywho…thanks for reading. I appreciate it.

What a beautiful piece. And so similar to my situation with my dad, it’s eerie. He passed without even a discussion of reconciliation though, but I’ve been able to work through my issues via my writing. I’m quite surprised that you didn’t earn the grant with it, but glad to see a publication recognized its brilliance and published it.

I’m sorry to hear that your dad passed without trying to resolve what was between you two. That’s tough. Sounds like you’ve found a way to move through the situation (without him). Thanks for the kind words about the grant (and my writing). I really do think the publication is a better contribution in some ways.

Kathy, thank you for publishing your so very strong story ” Transition” that touched my heart deeply this sunny morning. The birds sing a song to life and somehow make me feel how we humans complicate life very often.
The pain and loss is all through your story until the quitter final loss.
Congratulations on your win.
Miriam

Thanks for reading it Miriam. This is an abbreviated version, but the editors did a great job of deleting quite a bit, while leaving the main message. I do agree that we complicate the you-know-what out of life MANY times. I’ve deduced that one reason is because we have physical memory of pain and traumatic events that we sometimes hold on to things that no longer serve us, thus doing what you’ve said here, complicating life. Also, we complicate things by not doing simple things, like my father did, such as just calling to check on someone 🙂 As you can see, I’ve thought long and hard about it.

WOW, KE. This piece is magnificent, such an honest account of how conflicted you felt dealing with this complicated relationship and series of events. Glad to see it published, and you, a finalist. You deserve it. 🙂

Thank you Felicia! Yes ma’am. Forgiving someone is SUPER challenging and you have to WANT to really do it. Weird to say, but it was easy to write because I put it down on paper as soon as he died, so I wouldn’t forget. I edited (with a friend’s help) over a few months though. Thanks for your well wishes 😉

I loved it! I too have a troubled past with my dad. He is still alive for now but we are distant even though he lives 1\2 an hour away. You write so beautifully. Congratulations again for being a finalist.